Friday, June 22, 2012

My spiritual practice has evolved over time. Currently it
takes the form of 30 minutes of meditation in the mornings and 10 minutes at
night with a daily poem from Hafiz to spice things up.

In the past I have practiced contemplative prayer, done
daily scripture reading, used a daily reflection book, gone on long walks in
the woods, prayed for help, and, at times, ignored God. What worked for me then
doesn’t necessarily work for me now.

My friend Susan seeks a spiritual practice. She is an
energetic person and sitting in meditation for 30 minutes a day isn’t going to
work well for her. She ends up criticizing herself for not “doing it right.”
For her, spiritual practice needs to be more active: a walk outdoors, acts of
service to others, practice living in the moment.

Meditative practice is not for everyone. Just as outdoor
activities are not for everyone. Find what is right for you and then practice
the discipline. We call it “practice” because it is just that. We don’t arrive
at some perfect spiritual habit or space. We meet it daily in our practice.

You might try some of these:

*Read a poem each morning. Mary Oliver, Hafiz, Czeslaw
Milosz, and Rumi are a few of my favorites.

*Practice living in the moment. Regrets over the past bog us
down. The past is best left in the past. The future is yet to be and is way
beyond our control. Yet we each have this moment. Breathe it in and practice
returning your awareness to the now, focusing your attention on what is.

*Nature walks with awareness help us stay centered. Attend
to the details – the wonder of the trees, the sounds of the birds, the presence
of chipmunks and deer alike.

*Many communities have groups that gather together for
meditation practice. Here in Nashville
we are fortunate to have Insight Nashville, lead by Kathy Woods and Gordon
Peerman. Ask around your community. You may be pleasantly surprised by what you
discover.

The spiritual life is a daily practice of surrender,
returning awareness to the moment, and of release. In it you will find joy.

2 comments:

Love the idea of reading poetry as spiritual practice. When I read scripture I find myself spinning into a theological argument, exegesis, rant. But with poetry I accept the poem as it is and enter into a more meditative frame of mind. Thanks for the post.

Love the idea of reading poetry as spiritual practice. When I read scripture I find myself spinning into a theological argument, exegesis, rant. But with poetry I accept the poem as it is and enter into a more meditative frame of mind. Thanks for the post.